XtraTime Web Desk: Indian cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri thinks that god was there in England’s dressing room during their group league match but now he is hopeful that it will be on their side if they meet again in the tournament final at Lords on Sunday.
If
India beat New Zealand in first semifinal, they will play the winner of the second
last-four clash between Australia and England, in the summit showdown.
India qualified for the semifinals as table
toppers following seven wins. England were the only team to get the better of
Virat Kohli and his men.
Billed as favourites in the run-up to the
showpiece, England overcame a must-win situation against India to keep their
semifinal hopes alive.
“I thought god was in England’s dressing
room that day. Hope if we play England next, he sits in ours,” Shastri
said in a video posted by the ICC.
Shastri was lavish in his praise for the current tournament top-scorer Rohit Sharma, who has so far scored a World Cup record five centuries.
“Rohit is one of the greatest one-day
players. Whether he would have scored runs in this competition or not, just
seeing his record over the years… the three double hundreds in ODIs.
“No one has done that. He has been really
consistent for India at the top. His form was no surprise. If he chooses a
tournament like the World Cup to get that form in, as a coach, I will take
it,” Shastri said.
Rohit’s form and consistency has benefitted India. The opener entered into the semi-finals on the back of three back-to-back hundreds.
Picking Rohit’s hundred in the opening match
against South Africa as one of his best batting performances, Shastri said:
“It was a tough wicket. It was two-paced (against South Africa). So I
thought it was a special innings from Rohit because among all the ODI hundreds
he has got, I thought that was one of his best,” Shastri said.